Kid2Kid is a non-profit program dedicated
to improving the lives of children worldwide. Kid2Kid links kids
with kids so that they can make a difference in each other's lives.
Our mission is to provide support to children worldwide and to provide
the opportunity for kids everywhere to become aware of and help
one other.

Global Community

To encourage peace in the world, children must learn
about the world beyond their classroom and community–to learn
that they are all vital members of a global community. Children
participating in Kid2Kid are old enough to comprehend and young
enough to develop long lasting habits of deep compassion and empathy.

Education With Compassion

The Kid2Kid website offers students a rich learning
environment where they can learn about many facets of life in other
countries, with links to programs and sites that include in-depth
academic content. Once students have explored one or more countries,
Kid2Kid introduces them to groups of children and guides them through
a process whereby they learn about ‘true communication’
and friendship. The Kid2Kid curriculum of lessons and learning activities
complements and extends the online learning experience, facilitating
a process whereby children also learn about diversity, empathy and
compassion towards themselves, as well as others.

Through mutual understanding and communication, all
children who are touched by this program will make a positive difference
in the way people of our world relate and interact.

From Nepal to New York City, children need words of
love, support, and genuine interest from kids their own age. These
messages connect and unite all children. Through this very personal
contact children everywhere will begin to understand and be understood;
they will speak out and be heard.

Kid2Kid offers opportunities for students
anywhere to learn about what life is like for children in countries
around the world.

Kid2Kid introduces students to students and teaches communication
and understanding on a global level.

Kid2Kid provides a guide for this process, enabling students
to offer friendship (and support when appropriate) to children in
a manner that is compassionate, empathetic and empowering.

Students learn about complex
global issues that affect children worldwide, and through this process
they also learn about themselves and the intrinsic value of their
similarities and differences. As students become involved, learning
and enjoyment follow.

Teachers have access to
a program that enhances, easily integrates into, and helps provide
a format for a variety of curricular and extra-curricular programs
(e.g., service learning, multicultural education, character development).
Furthermore, Kid2Kid provides the teacher with a complete curriculum
of lesson plans and teaching resources to facilitate his/her participation
in Kid2Kid.

Kid2Kid Benefits

Kid2Kid benefits for K-6 students:

Provides the resources for kids to speak in their own voice
to peers, kid to kid;

Fosters the development of compassion by putting a face
on kids who are different, or live far away;

Promotes respect and deeper understanding of other cultures
and human conditions;

Effectively and responsibly integrates resources available
through the internet, the classroom, and the world; and

It's fun!

How It Works for Everyone!

The Kid2Kid website provides students with access
to rich educational content about what it is like to be a kid in
countries throughout the world. Kid2Kid then links students to other
children. Students write letters to the children of their choice,
create artwork, ask pertinent questions and participate in related
cultural activities. Throughout this process the teachers or after
school program leaders have access to a variety of lesson plans
and resources designed to support their instruction and enhance
students' experience with Kid2Kid.

Kid2Kid will see that all students’ letters
and communications get immediately air shipped and delivered to
the local aid agency (NGO) which will personally deliver them to
their children. The NGOs have promised to photograph their children
receiving the mail and post the photos on the Kid2Kid website. The
students can then log on to the Kid2Kid website and see children
reading the letters they have just sent!

The students will probably receive a letter (and a
new friend) in return.

Here’s how it looks! (See below for explanation
of graphic.)

1. A group of children are recognized as
suitable Kid2Kid participants by a local NGO.
2. NGO sends information and photos of the group of children to
Kid2Kid.
3. Kid2Kid puts the photo and information on the Kid2Kid website.
4. A class of children see the photo and information on the website
during their Kid2Kid class program. They learn about a new country.
5. Students write letters, send photos, etc. to their chosen group
of children to learn more about them. They send these communications
to Kid2Kid.
6. Kid2Kid air ships these communications to the NGO.
7. The NGO receives the letters, translates them and hand delivers
them to the children. They take pictures. The same process is reversed
as children respond to their new friends.
8. Kid2Kid puts the photos on the website and sends the response
letters on to the students.

Note: Because the NGO’s
are the liaison, all children can participate, even without access
to computers!

Two very diverse and distant groups of children
have just shared themselves with and learned from each other. Each
group begins to understand and appreciate difference in a new light.
More importantly they learn that deep down we are all really very
much alike.

Explore Our Website

The Kid2Kid site is divided into four areas:

1.
Kids

This is where kids and adults are invited to explore
and learn about what it is like to be a child in another part of
the world. It is an area rich in academic content with links to
educational sites that offer in depth information on a variety of
related topics. It is also the area where students are invited to
meet "real kids" from each featured country. Students
are introduced to ideas for how to communicate with and understand
children from around the world living in diverse cultures.

2. Teachers
& Group Leaders

The Teachers’ area contains information about:
1) Using Kid2Kid as a classroom or after school
program, 2) Kid2Kid as a component of a service
learning project, 3) the Kid2Kid curriculum containing
a range of lesson plans designed to support Kid2Kid activities and
4) related support and resources.

3. Online
Community

This currently consists of a bulletin board where
Kid2Kid members can view photographs and other materials they receive
in response from the children they have reached out to and a chat
room with scheduled, moderated chats and other activities designed
for inclusion and communication reinforcement for diverse populations.
This area will also contain a newsletter highlighting the activities
and achievements of Kid2Kid members and partners.

4. Kid2Kid Project Description

This area (where you are now) contains information
of interest to supporters and friends of Kid2Kid, and participating
non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It has background information
on Kid2Kid, its facilitating partner the International
Child Resource Institute, and other partner organizations.
This area also contains details about Kid2Kid's working relationship
with selected NGOs.

Membership is free and available to all teachers and
group leaders. The benefits to you and your students are substantial!
Once you have explored our site please take a moment to consider
becoming a Kid2Kid member.

It’s free!

To become a member, you, as the teacher or
group leader, simply need to register
with Kid2Kid.

Registration is simple. You are registered once you
notify us by email that your group of students would like to write
letters and/or become involved with one of the groups of kids listed
on the site. By registering you help us ensure that all Kid2Kid
children are acknowledged.